One of our own, @zach.vancoller took some leave to do the unimaginable 🚴♂️
Cycling across South Africa with his dad and grandpa by his side — on a mission to get his gramps over the Race Across South Africa finish line, 2,000+ kms away!
Along the way the cycle turned into a battle — exhaustion, terrible weather, long cold nights in the saddle and stomach bugs that brought all 3 of them to their knees.
The journey turned into a daily story of inspiration to friends, colleagues, family and hundreds of people who joined online just to watch their dots crawl across South Africa.
It all came to a head on Monday night — 10 hours to the cut-off, 180kms to the finish. A ride through the night with Zach out front, pulling his grandpa with a tow rope, urged on by strangers online! 🙌
They rolled across the finish line together at 7am on Tuesday morning, less than an hour before the cut-off, to an emotional reception and a community that had cheered every single pedal stroke. 🥹
We are SO proud of you Zach, Brett and Tim! 👏❤️
Stay tuned for a deep dive into their adventure and the Race Across South Africa, coming soon!
#raceacrosssouthafrica #freedomtrail #freedomchallenge #endurance #inspiration
The van Coller trio spanning three generations reached the finish of Race Across South Africa 45 min before the 15 day cut off. Tim 74 years set out on this epic adventure with his son Brett 52 years and his grandson Zach 22 years. These three clawed tooth and nail covering 284km in the last 24 hours and riding though the night to finish this epic journey across the country.
They stirred up the Freeodm community like no other finish we have seen. Their story of never giving up and fight no matter the odds is truly inspirational.
Thank you for taking us with you on your incredible feat and showing us what can be done if you keep moving forward.
#family #adventure #believe #keepmoving #rasa
2000 km. 24 000 m ascent. 12 days. Little sleep. Big lessons.
You always know it’s going to be hard.
You forget just how hard.
The first days—Pietermaritzburg to Rhodes—are brutal. Climbing, altitude, rough terrain, mud, wind.
Your body is tired… but your nervous system?
It thinks you’re at war.
And yet—it’s wildly beautiful.
I chose a gravel bike. Lighter, but less forgiving. My hands paid the price.
Had wheel issues too.
Sometimes you can be in a Toyota Prado and still get towed by a Nissan bakkie.
That’s life. You adapt. You carry on.
At 2:30am, cold and wrecked—that’s when the real work starts.
The voice gets loud. Old patterns show up.
But this is not happening to me.
I chose this.
This is my classroom.
This is where I learn.
Step outside your comfort zone. That’s where the truth lives.
#Endurance #FreedomChallenge #Resilience #MentalStrength #beING
On tour with @ollie_gone_walkabout and his dad Merak 2 days from the finish of Race Across South Africa.
“Popped over Swartberg” 😂
#rasa #bikepacking #wildlife
